Side chain liquid crystalline acrylic copolymers exhibiting nonlinear optical response

Abstract

This invention provides novel acrylic copolymers which exhibit nonlinear optical response, and which have utility as a transparent optical component in optical light switch and light modulator devices. An invention side chain liquid crystalline polyvinyl polymer is illustrated by poly([6-(4-nitrobiphenyloxy)hexyl methacrylate][ethyl acrylate]): ##STR1##

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent solid medium of a copolymer which is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: ##STR12## where m and m 1  are integers which total at least 10; R is hydrogen or a C 1  -C 4  alkyl, C 6  -C 10  aryl or halo substituent; S' is a flexible spacer group having a linear chain length of between about 1-25 atoms; X is --NR 1  --, --O-- or --S--; R 1  is hydrogen or a C 1  -C 4  alkyl group; R 2  is a C 1  -C 4  alkyl group; Y is ##STR13## and Z is a nitro group; and wherein the copolymer has a stable orientation of an external field-induced alignment of mesogens. 
     
     
       2. An optical device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the copolymer component is poly([6-(4-nitrostilbeneoxy)hexyl methacrylate][methyl methacrylate]). 
     
     
       3. An optical device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the copolymer component is poly([6-(4-nitrobiphenyloxy)hexyl methacrylate][ethyl methacrylate]).